2018 Holden Commodore RS-V Tourer Review

The Holden Commodore RS-V tourer is the first Commodore I’ve driven not made in Australia since manufacturing moved out to Germany.

Not since my own 1999 Holden Astra have I been in a Holden put together in Europe.

Sad as this may be, the Commodore is a decent offering and this Tourer in particular, perfect for family holidays as was tested on a recent camping trip.

Exterior

The Tourer is the wagon version of the large car, which I still favour over the more popular SUV.

This current incarnation doesn’t look much like the Commodores of old; not so muscular and menacing and more Mazda than Holden.

It appears more streamlined, especially in the wagon form but at least it still feel like one on the inside.

A large swage line down the side leads you to the rather compact rear with integrated dual exhausts making everything nice and neat.

Interior

The interior is practically functional – neat but not luxurious – though still unique, differing from current design trends.

The dashboard bulges slightly towards the middle and has a good, uncomplicated layout while controls are placed within reach, well designed like the row of driver assist system buttons above the gear shifter.

This sits tidily in the sturdy floor console that has decent storage spaces as does the rest of the cabin.

While spacious, the distance between passenger and driver doesn’t seem all that wide but the leather seats are comfortable with good legroom all round.

Rear passengers will find it a pleasure to ride along with a bucket style scoop very accommodating.

The station wagon boot is built for carrying your stuff on a getaway and is built practically with a cargo blind that is flush to the rear seat, runs on a track and has a second position if you want to quickly grab something without opening the whole blind.

Features

There’s a multitude of inclusions in the RS-V making it a very comprehensive offering.

Complete with a colour driver info display even equipped with a with follow distance indicator, a driver HUD that shows speed, revs, audio and collision alert and a powered tailgate so loading and unloading is just that little bit easier. Not to mention it has a ¾ level option for those low height areas.

• Auto start/stop
• Cruise control/speed limiter
• Sport mode
• Powered, heated, leather seats
• Under leg support
• Powered tailgate with ¾ level
• Digital radio
• Sat-nav
• HUD
• Dual climate control
• Cargo blind with track and second position
• Shopping bag hooks in boot
• Electric park brake

Drive and Engine

With all the gear and the family loaded up in the wagon we headed on a long distance drive in the Commodore Tourer for my son’s first camping trip.

The RS-V is stable on the freeway, steady and quiet – ideal for those roadtrips.

The ride is amenable if ever so slightly harsh.

And with a big 3.6L V6 under the bonnet, you have no trouble getting up those steep hills or overtaking that slow caravan.

While there’s plenty of vitality in standard mode there is less delay in sport mode though the throttle is a little jumpy wanting to get off the mark and I prefer a smoother acceleration.

It felt like it chews up a bit of fuel but the 9.6L/100km says otherwise.

Safety

• Autonomous Emergency Braking
• Pedestrian Detection
• Forward Collision Alert with Head Up Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keep Assist
• Following Distance Indicator
• Side Blind Zone Alert
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Good Bits

• Versatile and practical
• Endless power
• HUD
• Inclusions
• Safety features
• Powered tailgate
• Cargo blind design

Not So Good Bits

• Exterior styling

Summary

Ignoring the fact it isn’t made on our fair shores anymore, the Holden Commodore should still be an Aussie favourite.

The RS-V Tourer especially is great for families, long distance drives and weekend getaways with great storage, a comfortable cabin and practical storage solutions.

A V6 engine still adds a little serious fun to the mix nicely matched to the handling, feel and sports automatic gearbox.

And in a world dominated by SUVs, we would do with more station wagons.

Facts and Figures: 2018 Holden Commodore RS-V Tourer

• Engine: 3.6L V6 petrol producing 235kW/381Nm
• Transmission: Nine-speed sports automatic
• Warranty: 5 years/ unlimited km
• Safety: Five stars
• Origin: Germany
• Price: from $49,190